Developer Looks East For Room To Expand

Kings Ridge Plans To Buy 450 Acres For 1,200 Houses

CLERMONT -- The developer of the massive Kings Ridge retirement community is looking to expand the gated subdivision eastward, a move that could add more than 1,000 new homes.

Lennar Homes Inc. wants to buy 450 acres of sand-mine property adjacent to Kings Ridge, on which it would build up to 1,200 homes, said Rob Ahrens, the company's president of development.

That would be in addition to the 2,600 homes Clermont already has approved on 900 acres in Kings Ridge.

Ideally, Ahrens said, the new development would be an extension of Kings Ridge, in which residents of both phases could use each other's recreation facilities.

Lennar is probably a year away from seeking city approval for the extension, Ahrens said, but the developer is already negotiating with Kings Ridge's politically active residents in an effort to blunt any opposition.

"We're exploring it with the homeowners," Ahrens said. "What we've told them is that the property's going to get zoned some day. Would you rather have control of what happens next door to you?"

Company officials have been meeting with Kings Ridge's "presidents council," a collection of each of the subdivision's homeowners association presidents. So far, the reaction has been mixed.

"It's getting crowded, and [residents] want it to stay just like it was when they bought homes here," said John Maltese, a member of the presidents council.

The biggest concerns are increased traffic and crowding at community recreation areas, such as its swimming pool and clubhouse, said Bob Knopf, another association president.

Ahrens said he envisions the new phase with extensive walking trails linking various open areas, such as tennis courts, a bocce field and a dog park.

Lennar also may offer to build restaurants instead of an office park on a 20-acre stretch at the Kings Ridge entrance as a bargaining chip.

"We have real concerns that have to be addressed," said Gail Ash, another of the neighborhood presidents. "We can certainly oppose it."